Monthly Archives: August 2011

Contemplation (contemplatio) evolves into action (actio). In historic lectio divina, contemplation was the final phase, because it was understood that there is no way for the written Word to become the living Word without putting into practice what we have … Continue reading →

Before we leave Jesus’ pattern of prayer, I want to share one more post with you about it. The phrase “was withdrawing” has triggered a new thought in my mind. I’ve already noted that the phrase in Greek indicates that … Continue reading →

Book eleven of The Desert Fathers is entitled “Sober Living.” It’s not a term we use a lot today, but it embodies an essential element in the Christian spiritual life. The best synonym for it today would be “Singular Living”–or … Continue reading →

We receive and accept “a word” from our reading (lectio) phase. Now, we meditate (meditatio) in relation to it. My favorite definition of meditation comes from Evelyn Underhill: “thinking in the presence of God.” That takes a lot of the … Continue reading →

In our consideration of the spiritual life as a “whole-life” endeavor (what has also been called a “God alone” perspective), we must not come to think of it as becoming so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good. There is … Continue reading →

Prayer (oratio) winds its way through the entirety of lectio divina. But after the initial prayer discussed in yesterday’s post, we move next to reading (lectio). We read systematically. While there is nothing wrong with reading “here and there” in … Continue reading →